Accounting Degrees in Missouri

Introduction

Home to 10 Fortune 500 companies, Missouri boasts a diverse economy that offers an abundance of employment opportunities for accountants and auditors. Two Federal Reserve Banks, as well as corporate giant Monsanto, are based in Missouri, along with strong industries including food processing, aerospace, equipment manufacturing, chemical production, agriculture, and printing/publishing. All the “Big Four” international CPA firms operate in Missouri, and the state is also home to some of the largest independent financial firms in the Midwest, including BKD, RubinBrown, and Brown Smith Wallace. While CPA jobs in Missouri are projected to grow slightly slower than average through 2026, the state still employs an above average number of accountants and auditors: more than 24,000 total.

Missouri at a glance

Population

6,113,532

Per Capita Income

$26,126

Unemployment Rate

3.2%

Fortune 500 Companies

10

Licensed CPA Firms

928

Accounting Programs in Missouri

Search our comprehensive school directory to explore the accounting programs in Missouri, including campus-based, online and hybrid programs.

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Accounting Salaries and Employment

Missourian accountants and auditors can look forward to a 12.7% increase in employment between 2012 and 2022, generating 29,130 potential positions. Burgeoning regional firms, like BKD, RubinBrown, Brown Smith Wallace, Anders and Mueller Prost will be contributing to this job pool.

Missouri’s accountants can also expect to earn anywhere between $36,090 and $121,360 annually in the state’s growing economy, depending on their degree level, speciality and licensure. Top-paying cities for accountants include St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield and Joplin.

Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) in Missouri

Aspiring CPAs of Missouri sit for the Uniform CPA Exam administered by NASBA and AICPA and must meet the eligibility requirements listed below. Several of the colleges and universities in the state have accounting programs with top passing rates.

The list below of Missouri schools ranked by their CPA Pass Rates from 2014 includes both first time testers and candidates returning to attempt the exam again, retaking the whole exam or portions of it – a common event due to the complexity level of the exam.

CPA exam fees in Missouri

Special Fees: A registration fee applies in addition to the application fee. The registration fee is a flat rate of $75, no matter the number of sections an individual is registering for.

Certifying and Professional Organizations

The Missouri State Board of Accountancy is a state agency responsible for examining, certifying, licensing and regulating CPAs and public accounting firms. Funded by fees from CPA candidates and licensees, the Board administers the CPA exam for Missouri state. Upon licensure, CPAs are eligible to join the Missouri Society of CPAs.

The MSCPA is a professional development organization comprised of 8,000 members in working in public practice, industry, government, and education fields. The MSCPA is dedicated to the betterment of its members by providing continuing professional education, networking events, governmental advocacy, up-to-date news and information, student-centered initiatives and resource access.